Incumbent Morris County GOP freeholders ousted in primary due to numerous factors

Frank H. Conlon/The Star-LedgerJack Schrier stands in front of one of his black and white photographs in this 2009 file photo.

MORRIS COUNTY — Two Morris County Republican freeholders lost Tuesday’s primary due to a combination of factors, including the Highlands, dual-office holding, pay and benefits, taxes and spending, ballot positioning and anti-incumbent fervor, some candidates said.

In an 11-way race for three nominations, incumbents Jack Schrier and James Murray were ousted by Parsippany Councilwoman Ann Grossi and Montville businessman Tom Mastrangelo.

Freeholder Douglas Cabana, who ran as a team with Schrier and Murray, won the third nomination.

In the November general election, Cabana, Grossi and Mastrangelo will face Democrats Susan Buttros, Steven Reichenstein and Avery Hart, who were uncontested in their primary.

Grossi and Mastrangelo ran as the “Morris Conservative Team” with another candidate, pledging to cut taxes and spending and increase transparency.

“Morris County is arguably the best-run county” in the state under incumbent stewarship, Schrier said.

“I don’t think there was anything else I could have done differently. It is puzzling and disappointing to me,” Schrier said of his defeat. “Why voters want to change for the sake of change baffles me.”

Grossi said, “Just because it’s well-run doesn’t mean you are entitled to be there forever.”

Schrier came under fire from the Grossi team for his support of Highlands preservation, which has generated opposition in the northwest, and for dual-office holding as a member of the Mendham Township Committee. Grossi has vowed to resign from Parsippany’s council if she wins a freeholder seat.

While Schrier, who is acting chair of the Highlands Council, doesn’t think that was a factor in his loss, Mastrangelo said, “I think the Highlands did create a problem for Jack.”

Schrier said the key factors in the race were low turnout coupled with top ballot positions and large pluralities from Parsippany for Grossi’s team.

Grossi said ballot placement and anti-incumbent fervor may sway some votes, but her team’s proposals to reduce freeholder pay 20 percent and not accept county health benefits resonated with voters skittish over the economy.